Iranian, Malaysian, Turkish Scientists Win Inaugural Mustafa Young Scholar Award

Date: 06 September 2025 - 22:26

News ID: ۱۴۳۲۵۰

TEHRAN -- In a landmark moment for the scientific community of the Islamic world, the prestigious Mustafa Prize has, for the first time, awarded the Young Scientist Medal to three exceptional researchers under the age of 40.
The announcement made on Saturday, at a ceremony in Tehran, marks a pivotal step in recognizing the rising generation of innovators shaping the future of biomedical science across Muslim-majority countries.
The event was graced by prominent figures including Muhammad-Reza Mokhber Dezfuli, President of the Iranian Academy of Sciences; Ali-Akbar Salehi, President of Iranology Foundation; Mahdi Safariania, CEO of the Mustafa Science and Technology Foundation; and Professor Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator of the Ministerial Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH), himself a past Mustafa Prize laureate.
Among the honorees, Dr. Sepideh Mirzaei from Iran was recognized for her groundbreaking work on regulating drug resistance in cancer by deciphering molecular pathways—an endeavor with vast potential to improve chemotherapy outcomes.
From Malaysia, Show Pau Loke received acclaim for innovations in algae-based technologies applicable to aquaculture and the food industry, highlighting sustainable solutions with far-reaching economic and environmental im pact.
And from Turkey, Buse Cevatemre was awarded for her pioneering research unraveling how cancer cells adapt and resist chemotherapy through epigenetic changes and microenvironmental interactions, advancing understanding of cancer’s resilience.
The new medal, unranked and awarded for the first time, symbolizes the Mustafa Prize Foundation’s commitment to encouraging young scientists across the Islamic world. It serves as both recognition of scientific excellence and a beacon inspiring future generations to push the frontiers of knowledge. Each laureate also receives a $10,000 cash award to support ongoing research.
The establishment of the Young Scientist Medal owes much to the generosity of previous laureates, including Ugur Sahin, who won the Mustafa Prize in 2019, and Omid Farokhzad, the 2023 winner, both of whom have dedicated their prizes to founding this new recognition for emerging talent.
Eligibility for the award is exclusive: candidates must be under 40 at the year of award (for the inaugural 2025 medal, born in 1986 or later), actively engaged in biomedical and life sciences research, and either Muslim scientists worldwide or scientists residing in Islamic countries regardless of faith. Nominations are rigorously vetted by leading scholars and institutions, including universities, research centers, academies, and science parks.
Since its inception in 2015, the biennial Mustafa Prize has rapidly become the most prestigious scientific award in the Islamic world, celebrating innovators who have shifted the boundaries of knowledge and technology. More than a prize, it functions as a bridge connecting the hearts and minds of scientists across diverse nations, fostering collaboration and advancing sustainable development globally.
The 6th edition of the prize, spanning fields of information and communication technologies, life sciences and medicine, and basic sciences and engineering, culminates with an awards ceremony on September 9 at Tehran’s iconic Vahdat Hall, attended by over a hundred distinguished guests from Iran and abroad.
This cycle highlights the scientific prowess emerging not only from Iran—which boasts a record seven recipients of the Mustafa Prize among 22 laureates to date—but also Turkey and India, whose scientists are pushing new frontiers.
Alongside the Young Scientist Medalists, other winners include Vahab Mirrokni (Iran) for resilient hashing algorithms in information technology; Mehmet Toner (Turkey) for clinical applications of nanofluidic cell separation; and Muhammad Khawaja Nazeeruddin (India) for advances in perovskite solar cells.
Notably, two women scientists—Jackie Yi-Ru Ying from Singapore and Samia Khoury from Lebanon—have previously been honored for their innovative work in nanobiotechnology and novel treatments for multiple sclerosis, respectively, underscoring the Prize’s inclusive recognition of excellence.
In total, laureates hail from a diverse set of countries including Jordan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Egypt, reflecting the Prize’s broad embrace of talent across the Muslim world.